Hazaribag: A 30-year-old priest associated with the ‘kirtan mandali’ at the centuries-old Maa Bhadrakali Temple in Itkhori, Chatra district, was found hanging in a room on the temple premises on Friday night, police said on Saturday.The deceased was identified as Aman Dwivedi, alias Swami Srinivas, a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district. He had been associated with the temple since 2022. According to family members and acquaintances, he had studied at a gurukul in his native village and had also spent some time at the Tirupati temple.Itkhori police station officer in-charge Abhishek Kumar Singh, circle officer Savita Singh and other officials reached the spot. Police brought the body down and took it to the community health centre in Itkhori, where doctors declared him dead.“Circumstances leading to the death are yet to be established. Investigation is under way,” the OC said.Srinivas was known among devotees for his religious knowledge and disciplined conduct. He had reportedly initiated several followers and was a familiar presence at the temple’s religious activities.
